Bracket and connector attachment

ABSTRACT

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus that includes a connector mountable to a circuit board and a bracket attached to the connectors. The connector includes at least one port at least one retractable raised portion formed it at least one side of the connector adjacent to a side having a port opening. The bracket includes a front face for abutting against the side of the connector having the port opening and includes a first opening to provide access to the port. The bracket includes at least one side adjacent the front face that has at least one second opening in alignment with the at least one retractable raised portion so as to enable the retractable raised portion to enter the second opening and secure the bracket to the connector.

BACKGROUND

Computing systems contain many boards, interconnects and/or cards(hereinafter simply referred to as “boards”) within an environment(e.g., computer housing, chassis). The systems may include a main board(e.g., server board, mother board, backplane) having other boardsconnected thereto. The main boards may be capable of receiving multipledifferent types of other boards (e.g., network interface boards,graphics boards) and the other boards may be capable of being added orremoved from the system, possibly while the system is operationalwithout affecting the operation of the overall system (hot swap). Theother boards may be perpendicular to the main board if the other boardsconnect to connectors on the main board. Alternatively, a riser boardmay be connected perpendicular to the main board and the other boardsmay connect perpendicular to the riser board and thus be parallel to themain board. The environment may have an opening (or openings) thatenable the other boards to be removed therefrom or inserted therein(swapped). The other boards may include a bracket that is connected tothe board and holds the board within the environment. The bracket may beused to remove the board from the environment.

The size of the other boards within the system may be based on, amongother things, the size of the environment, available room within theenvironment, openings in the environment for which the connectors orindicators are accessible or with which the boards are swapped, thetypes of connectors and the location of the connectors on the mainboard, and the type of computing system. Boards (e.g., networkinterface, boards) may come in different sizes depending on some subsetof the parameters noted above. For example, boards may come in standardsizes and smaller (low profile) sizes for more compact environments.Different standards may apply that define the size and other parametersassociated with the other boards depending on the type of computingsystem and the type of environment.

The other boards may have connectors or indicators that are accessibleto outside the environment. The connectors may enable the computingsystem to connect to peripheral (e.g., printers, monitors) via, forexample serial ports, parallel ports, or USB connectors. The connectorsmay enable the computing system to communicate with other devices (e.g.,networks, LAN, Internet) via, for example, RJ-45 connectors, RJ-11connectors or coaxial cable connectors. The size of the board, thecomputing environment, and any standards that apply thereto may affectthe number of connectors that can be located on the board forconnections external to the environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the various embodiments will becomeapparent from the following detailed description in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example computing system,according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 2A–B illustrate an example add-on board and bracket that may beused in a computing environment, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front exploded view of an example connector andbracket for mounting to a board, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear exploded view of an example connector andbracket for mounting to a board, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of an example connectormounted to a board, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a front perspective view of an example connector andbracket mounted to a board, according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a rear perspective view of an example connector andbracket mounted to a board, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example computing system100. The system 100 includes a main board 110 having at least oneconnector 120 for holding additional (add-on) boards. The system 100resides within a housing (only back wall illustrated). The housing mayinclude a grate 130 for securing the add-on boards to the housing. Thegrate 130 may include rails 140 for supporting the add-on boards andconnecting the add-on boards to the housing and openings 150 forenabling the add-on boards to be accessed external to the housing. Theadd-on boards may include connectors or indicators that can be accessedexternal to the housing.

As illustrated, the main board 110 is placed horizontally on the bottomof the environment. The add-on boards are not illustrated in FIG. 1 tosimplify the figure, but could be mounted to a connector 120 and extendvertically from the main board 110 and extend toward the back of thehousing where it is supported and possibly connected to the rails 140.Any connectors or indicators on the edge of the add-on board may beaccessible through the openings 150.

Alternatively, a riser card may be mounted to the main board 110 andextend vertically therefrom, and the add-on cards may be mounted to theriser card and extend horizontally therefrom so as to be substantiallyparallel to the main board 110. For this embodiment the rails 140 andopenings 150 in the grate 130 would have to extend horizontally.

The main board is not limited to being placed horizontally within theenvironment with the add-on boards being placed above the main board(either vertically or horizontally using a riser card). For example, ifthe main board was a backplane in a router or switch it may be mountedvertically on the back end of a rack and the add-on boards would extendeither vertically or horizontally therefrom (depending upon theconfiguration of the connectors on the board).

FIGS. 2A–B illustrates an example add-on board 200 and bracket 230 thatmay be used in a computing environment. The board 200 may include aconnector 210 for connecting to the main board (e.g., 110 of FIG. 1).The connector 210 may be formed in an edge of the board 200 so that itcan connect to a connector (e.g., 120) on the main board. Alternatively,a connector may be mounted to the board 200 and extend from an edge ofthe board 200. As illustrated, the connector 210 is on a lower edge ofthe board 200 but is in no way limited thereto. Rather the connectorscould extend from any edge. For example, for the router/switch notedabove the connector may be on the back edge of the board so that itcould be used to connect the board into the backplane when the board isinserted in the rack.

The connector 210 extends from the edge of the board 200 so that theconnector can be inserted into the connector on the main board withoutthe edge of the board interfering. When the add-on board 200 isconnected to the main board the lower edge of add-on board 200 will beabove the main board by a certain amount so as not to interfere with themain board. A front portion 220 of the board may have an extended loweredge as well. The front portion 200 is where connectors or otherindicators are located and are accessible external to the environmentthat the boards are located.

The bracket 250 may be used for connecting the board 200 to the housing(e.g., grate 130). The bracket 250 may include a lower edge 260 and afaceplate 260 extending perpendicular to the board 200. The lower edge260 may include holes (not illustrated) that are in alignment with holes225 in the front portion 220 of the board 200 to secure the bracket 250to the board 200 with, for example, screws 265. The holes 225 may be inthe upper and lower corners so that the bracket 250 is secured to theboard 200 at both ends. The faceplate 270 may include an opening 275 sothat any connectors or indicators on the board 200 are visible outsidethe housing. The faceplate 270 may include a first tab 280 extendingperpendicular to the faceplate 250 on one edge and a second tab 285extending past the board 200 on the other edge.

The number of connectors (or ports within a connector) that can beutilized on a board 200 may be controlled by, among other things, thesize and type of board 200 and the size of the opening 275. Theseparameters may be controlled by standards related to boards, chassis'and/or systems, or the specifications for the particular system.

For certain boards (e.g., network interface boards) the number of portswithin a connector may be a power of two (e.g., 2, 4, 8). Therefore, ifa board is just to small to fit a particular number of ports the numberof ports on the board may be reduced in half (e.g., from 4 to 2).

By way of example, the board 200 and the bracket 250 illustrated in FIG.2 are PCI Express low profile compliant, the physical parameters ofwhich are governed by the PCI Express Card ElectromechanicalSpecification, Revision 1.0a, published Apr. 15, 2003 (hereinafterreferred to as “the PCIe specification”). The physical parametersillustrated for the board 200 and the bracket 250 effect the type ofconnectors and number of ports capable of being placed on the board.

For example, a PCIe low profile bracket has an opening 275 of 2.147inches (plus or minus tolerances) so that any connector could not be anylonger than that. The PCIe low profile bracket includes a chassiskeepout area of 0.2 inches associated with each edge of the board. Thekeepout area associated with the upper edge means that a connector couldnot utilize that portion of the board. If mounting holes 225 are used oneither the upper or lower edges there is a keepout area 230 definedtherearound so that a connector could not utilize this area. The frontportion of the board 220 includes a tab 235 extending 0.325 inches pastthe lower edge of the board, however the tab is only 0.591 inches inwidth thus limiting the width of a connecter that could use this area asthe connector can not extend into the gap 240 formed behind the tab 235.

FIGS. 3–7 illustrate different views of a board 300 having an exampleconnector 400 and bracket 500 mounted thereto. Use of the connector 400and the bracket 500 can increase the number of ports capable of beingmounted on the board 300 and accessible outside of the computingenvironment. FIGS. 3–7 illustrate a PCI Express low profile compliantboard having a four port RJ-45 connector mounted thereto. The PCIExpress low profile physical parameters, such as those illustrated inFIGS. 2A–B, are not illustrated in FIGS. 3–7 but are understood toapply.

The board 300 includes a front portion having a tab 310 extending from alower edge and a connector 320 extending from a lower edge forconnecting to a main board. The board 300 may also include a tab 330 onthe lower edge (e.g., between the connector 320 and the tab 310) toprevent the board 300 from being plugged into the wrong type ofconnectors (e.g., prevent a PCI Express board from being plugged into aPCI connector). The front portion of the board 300 may include a hole340 for accepting a screw 700 to secure the bracket 500 to the board300.

The connector 400 has a number of ports 410 (e.g., 4) formed therein.The connector includes pins for connecting to the board 300 and mayinclude rods for aligning the connector 400 with the board 300 byplacing the rods in holes in the board 300. The connector 400 includesat least one retractable raised portion (snap) 420 on the top surface ofconnector 400. The snaps 420 may be retracted if pressure is applied.The snaps 420 may be spring loaded or may be made of a flexiblematerial. The snaps 420 are used to connect to the connector 400 to thebracket 500.

The snaps 420 may be arced to aid in getting the bracket 500 over thesnaps 420. The snaps 420 may include stationary portions 430 on eachside and a retractable portion 440 in the middle. The stationaryportions 430 may help raise the bracket 500 onto the retractable portion440.

The bracket 500 includes a front face 510, a bottom face 520 and anupper face 530. The front face 510 includes an opening 540 formedtherein for providing access to and/or accepting the connector 400. Thelower face 520 may include a hole 550 for accepting a screw 700 toconnect the bracket 500 to the board 300. The upper face 530 includesholes 560 in alignment with the snaps 420 to receive the snaps 420.

The upper face 530 may also include tabs 570 in alignment with the holes560. The tabs 570 from a spare bracket would be in alignment with theholes 560 in a bracket 500 connected to the connector 400 and thus couldbe used to push down the snaps 420 and enable the bracket 500 to beremoved from the connector 400. According to one embodiment, each board300 may come with a low profile bracket and a standard height bracketand the bracket used depends on the system the board 300 is being placedin.

Alternatively, the tabs 570 on a mounted bracket 500 may be utilized toretract the snaps 420 so that the bracket 500 can be removed from theconnector 400. For example, the tabs 570 may be pushed down so that theretractable portion 440 is retracted so that the snaps 420 are no longerin the holes 560 and the bracket 500 can be removed from the connector400. Alternatively, the tabs 570 can be used to help lift the bracket500 up so that the snaps 420 are no longer in the hole 560 and thebracket 500 can be removed from the connector 400.

The front face 510 may include a tab 580 on one side that extendsperpendicular therefrom. The tab 580 may include a screw hole 585 forconnecting the bracket 500 via a screw to the environment that the board300 is within. The front face 510 may extend past the board 300 on theopposite side to create a tab 590 that may be used for removing theboard 300 from the environment.

The connector 400 is mounted to the front portion of the board 300including within the tab 310 and does not extend into the opening (e.g.,240) behind the tab 310. The connector 400 may extend over a front edgeof the board 300 by an allowable amount. The bracket 500 is to besecured to the upper edge of the board 300 so the connector 400 is notmounted within the keep-out area (e.g., 230) around the hole 340 or thechassis keepout area (e.g., 290).

The bracket 500 is connected to the connector 400 by placing the bracket500 over the connector 400 with the upper face 530 extending over theupper surface of the connector 400, the bottom face 520 extending belowthe front edge of the board 300 and the opening 540 surrounding theports 410. The top face 520 of the bracket 500 is secured to theconnector 400 by sliding the bracket 500 over the connector 400 untilthe snaps 420 in the connector 400 are within the holes 560 in the upperface 530 of the bracket 500. The hole 550 in the lower face 520 shouldbegin alignment with the hole 340 in the board 300. The bracket 500 isthen secured to the board 300 using a screw 700. The bracket 500 issecured to the board 300 to help prevent the bracket 500 from rotating.The connection of the bracket 500 and the connector 400 assists insecuring the bracket 500 and the board 300, thus enabling lessconnectivity between the board 300 and the bracket 500 (e.g., onlyconnected on upper edge).

The various embodiments described above with respect to FIGS. 3–7 arenot limited to those illustrated. For example, the connector 400 andbracket 500 are illustrated as connecting via two snaps 440 and twoholes 560 located on top surfaces but are not limited to the number orlocation of the snaps 440 and holes 560. For example, it is possiblethat one larger snap/opening could be utilized in the middle of theconnector/bracket or a third snap/opening could be added in the middlewithout departing from the scope. Likewise, the sides of theconnectors/brackets could include snaps/openings in place of or inaddition to the snaps/openings on the upper surface.

The connection between the bracket 500 and connector 400 is illustratedas being snaps 440 and holes 560 but is not limited thereto, rather itcould be any secure and easy to connect/disconnect connection. Forexample, the bracket could include snaps extending down and theconnector could include openings for receiving the snaps (as long as theopening did not interfere with the ports). The connector could include atab extending therefrom and the bracket could include a grove with aretractable opening for accepting the tab.

The bracket 500 is illustrated as being connected to the board 300 witha screw 700 but is not limited thereto. Rather the bracket 500 could besecured to the board 300 via other connections (e.g., clip, pin) or maynot be connected to the board 300 (if the bracket 500 is securedsufficiently to the connector 400 and the connector 400 is secured tothe board 300) without departing from the scope.

The various embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3–7 and described abovewere based on PCI express low profile boards and brackets and four portRJ-45 connectors. However, the various embodiments described herein arenot limited to PCI Express low profile parameters, RJ-45 connectors, orthe number of ports, let alone a four port PCI Express low profileboard/bracket. Moreover, the various embodiments are in no way intendedto be limited by the PCI express specification or any standards for thatmatter. Rather, the various embodiments described herein may beapplicable to any boards utilizing connectors and brackets in thismanner or other manners connectors. Utilizing the different embodimentsdescribed above to connect the bracket and connector to the boardprovides additional space on the board for the connector.

Although the disclosure has been illustrated by reference to specificembodiments, it will be apparent that the disclosure is not limitedthereto as various changes and modifications may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the scope. Reference to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed therein is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, theappearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment”appearing in various places throughout the specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

The various embodiments are intended to be protected broadly within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus comprising a network interface connector mountable to acircuit board, wherein said connector has a body and at least one portformed therein, and wherein the body includes at least one retractableraised portion on at least one side adjacent to a side having a portopening; a bracket attachable to said connector, wherein said bracketincludes a front face for abutting against the side of said connectorhaving the port opening, wherein the front face includes a first openingto receive the port, wherein said bracket includes at least one sideadjacent the front face that has at least one second opening inalignment with the at least one retractable raised portion so as toenable the retractable raised portion to enter the second opening andsecure said bracket to said connector.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the retractable raised portion is on a top surface of saidconnector and the second opening is on a top surface of said bracket. 3.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retractable raised portion isarced and includes stationary portions on each side and a retractableportion in the middle.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bracketis mountable to the circuit board.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, whereinsaid bracket includes a third hole in alignment with a hole in thecircuit board and is mounted to the circuit board by inserting a screwthrough the aligned holes.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidbracket further includes at least one tab in alignment with the at leastone second opening, and wherein the tab is used to disengage theretractable raised portion and the second opening.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said connector is mounted within a tab on lower edge ofsaid board and does not extend into gap behind the tab.
 8. The apparatusof claim 7, wherein the tab is in the range of 0.586 and 0.596 incheslong.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first opening is in therange of 2.142 to 2.152 inches long.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said connector is a four port RJ-45 connector mountable to a PCIexpress low profile compliant board and said bracket is a PCI expresscompliant bracket.
 11. A PCI express low profile compliant boardcomprising a four port RJ-45 connector mounted to the board, whereinsaid connector includes at least one retractable raised portion on atleast one side adjacent to a side having port openings; and a bracketattachable to said connector, wherein said bracket includes a front facefor abutting against the side of said connector having the portopenings, wherein the front face includes a first opening to receive theports, wherein said bracket includes at least one side adjacent thefront face that has at least one second opening in alignment with the atleast one retractable raised portion so as to enable the retractableraised portion to enter the second opening and secure said bracket tosaid connector.
 12. The board of claim 11, wherein the retractableraised portion is on a top surface of said connector and the secondopening is on a top surface of said bracket.
 13. The board of claim 11,wherein said bracket includes a third hole in alignment with a hole insaid board and is secured to said board by inserting a screw through thealigned holes.
 14. The board of claim 11, wherein said bracket is a PCIexpress low profile compliant bracket or a PCI express standard heightcompliant bracket.
 15. The board of claim 11, wherein said connector ismounted within a tab on lower edge of said board.
 16. The board of claim11, wherein said connector extends over front edge of said board.
 17. Asystem comprising a frame; a main board; and at least one add-in boardconnected to the main board, wherein the add-in board includes aconnector formed in a lower edge of said add-in board to provideconnectivity to a connector in said main board; a connector mounted to afront portion of the add-in board, wherein the connector has a body andat least one port formed therein, and wherein the body includes at leastone retractable raised portion on a top surface of the connector; and abracket attachable to the connector, wherein the bracket includes afront face for abutting against the side of the connector having theport opening, wherein the front face includes a first opening to receivethe port, wherein the bracket includes a top surface having at least onesecond opening in alignment with the at least one retractable raisedportion so as to enable the retractable raised portion to enter thesecond opening and secure the bracket to the connector, wherein thebracket also includes a tab extending from the front face to secure thebracket to said frame.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the bracketincludes a third hole in alignment with a hole in said add-in board andis securable to said add-on board by inserting a screw through thealigned holes.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the add-in board is aPCI express low profile compliant board and the connector is a four portRJ-45 connector.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the bracket isinterchangeable between a PCI express low profile compliant bracket anda PCI express standard height compliant bracket.